GuitaristChris Caffery(SAVATAGE,TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA) and vocalistTim “Ripper” Owens(JUDAS PRIEST,ICED EARTH,CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) have joined forces in a new band calledSPIRITS OF FIRE. The group, which is completed by the powerhouse rhythm section of bassistSteve DiGiorgio(TESTAMENT,DEATH,SEBASTIAN BACH,CHARRED WALLS OF THE DAMNED) and drummerMark Zonder(FATES WARNING,WARLORD), is halfway through recording its debut album for an early 2018 release throughFrontiers Music Srl. Enlisted to help with the writing and to produce the entire venture, including recording and mixing, isRoy “Z” Ramirez(BRUCE DICKINSON,HALFORD).

“It’s going to be a great album!” saysRoy Z.

Regarding how his collaboration withCafferycame about,OwenstoldMetal Express Radio: “Chrisand I have been friends for years, and he wrote a song [‘The Shadows Are Alive’] with me on my solo CD [2009’s‘Play My Game’], and we’ve always wanted to write together and do something. And he gave me a shout and we’ve signed a deal withFrontiers. It’s gonna be like a cross betweenSAVATAGEandJUDAS PRIESTkind of stuff. [Frontiers] is a fantastic label, so we’re looking forward to it.”

Owensrecorded two studio albums withJUDAS PRIEST—“Jugulator”and 2001’s“Demolition”— before the band reunited withRob Halford.